Word: referendums
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...Elsewhere in Europe, populist parties become part of coalition governments that blunt the sharper edges of their policies. But in Switzerland's referendum-based version of direct democracy, the SVP could use a victory as a bully pulpit from which to call for more anti-immigration referendums. "The Swiss system based on grassroots participation is a double-edged sword," says Thomas Held, director of Avenir Suisse, an independent social and economic think tank. "The danger is that the party will overdramatize the issues and frighten the voters into rejecting reforms or adopting restrictive measures, as is the case with...
Rather than promoting involvement in the political process, the current recall policy allows for blatant abuse of referendum. Sure, the people’s attention is momentarily diverted to the political arena—even the typically apathetic American public has tuned in to watch the multitude of candidates parade on television. But when women-groping, ex-Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger—with no real platform—is one of the leading candidates, it suggests that outrageousness, and not interest in the process, is drawing public attention...
...which has too many questionable Iraqi exiles like Ahmed Chalabi and too little input from the Grand Ayatullah Ali Sistani, the most powerful Shi?a cleric, or the general Sunni populace. The Bush Administration's chosen path is more responsible but too slow-write a new constitution, have a referendum on that constitution and then hold general elections. Colin Powell has set a six-month target for the constitution, but nobody believes it can be done that quickly. Political reality may dictate that this second option will be scrapped in favor of the first: a quick and dirty transfer...
...think it’s a vote of cowardice and an affront to democracy,” said Toomey, who said he opposes rent control but wants to see the referendum on the ballot. “If they can’t stand up and say where they stand on a tough issue they should not be in this chamber...
Dartboard’s opinion on the war in Iraq and Dartboard’s opinion on the upcoming referendum to recall California Governor Gray Davis are roughly the same. As in the case of Saddam Hussein, there is little disagreement that Davis is a bad man—it is the prudence of regime change at this time that Dartboard questions...